Utility tying tray



0a. 24, 1939. M. P. GEIGER 2,177,523

UTILITY TYING TRAY Filed June 16, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 3 J 32 Marika p 3 ATTO R N EY Oct. 24, 1939. M. P. GEIGER 2,177,523

UTILITY TYING TRAY Filed June 16, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. v mm INVENTOR a/lie 622' er BY ATTORNEY Oct. 24, 1939.

M. P. GEIGER 2,177,523

UTILITY TYING TRAY Filed June 16, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 1%r/lfa P 6955 ATTQRNEY Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE UTILITY TYING TRAY Martha P. Geiger, Brooklyn, N. Application June 16, 1938, Serial N0. 214,162

2 Claims. (Cl. 190-35) I This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a utility tray.

More specifically, the invention proposes the construction of a tying tray characterized by the '6 provision of a rigid'fiat member for supporting member and extendable over said folded garments in a manner to be normally disposed between said garments and said tie strings for hold- I ing the flaps in position upon the garments.

Still further it is proposed to construct the flat 20 member with ,a plurality of longitudinal scored areas along its sides which may be folded under to various degrees, and the provision of a means for permitting the tie strings to be associated with the rigid fiat member in all of its adjusted posi- 85 tions.

Still further it is proposed to provide small metallic two-armed clips engageable over the edge portions of the rigid member for, holding it in its adjusted positions and having a loop member 80 mounted thereon and upon which the tie strings are adapted to be attached.

Still further it is proposed to provide a cloth covering open on three sides and adapted to be closed by slide fasteners for entirely encasing the 86 rigidfiat member, the folded goods supported thereon, and the tie strings. v

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description m and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth. I

In the accompanying drawings forming a ma- 5 terial part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a utility tying tray constructed according to this invention and showing the manner in which it is adapted to be used.

Fig. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the utility tying tray per se.

Fig. 3 is a top tying tray.

Fig; 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of 65. Fig. 3.

perspective view of the utility Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a tying tray constructed according to a modification of the invention.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating a still further modification of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a sectional View taken through the center of the tying tray shown in Fig. 7 and showing the manner in which it is adapted to be used.

Fig. 9 is a perspective View similar to Fig. 3 illustrating a still further modification.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view on the line l0-lll of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the two-armed clip per se.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a utility tying tray constructed according to a still further modification of the invention.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 8 illustrating the manner in which the tray shown in Fig. 12 is adapted to be used.

Fig. 14 is a partial perspective view of one of the rear corners of the modification shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is another perspective view of the same, with the cover turned about the bottom of the bottom portion of the box.

Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line Iii-l6 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional View, similar to Fig. 10, but illustrating another form of the invention.

Fig. 18 is a similar view to Fig. 12 but illustrating a still further form of the invention.

Fig. 19 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line l9-I9 of Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is another top perspective view of a still further modified form of the invention.

Fig. 21 is a bottom perspective view of the de-- vice illustrated in Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 22-22 of Fi 20.

Fig. 23 is a perspective View similar to Fig. l but illustrating a still further modification.

Fig. 24 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 24-24 of Fig. 23.

Fig. 25 is a perspective view of another form of the utility tray.

The utility tray includes a rigid flat member Ill for supporting folded garments or articles H. The rigid fiat member i0 is constructed from a piece of substantially fiat cardboard, Wood, metal or other similar material and is adapted to have The edge portions of the sections l2 and W are adapted to be securely attached together by means of stitches l3.

A tie string I4 is provided for securing the folded garments H in position upon the rigid flat member ID. The tie string M has its interl5 which hold the tie strings [4 in position mediate portion M extending across the bottom of the rigid flat member l0 and is securely attached to the panel |2 of the decorative covering i2 by means of stitches !5. The ends of the tie strings M are adapted to be extended upwards along the sides of the folded garments positioned upon the rigid member Ill. The ends are then extended across the top of the folded garments and the adjacent ends tied into a bow M for maintaining the folded garments in position upon the tray. p

A loop I6 is formed at one side of the tray and has its ends inserted between the adjacent faces of the tie string l4 and the decorative'covering l 2 and is held in position by means of stitches l5. This loop is provided for permitting the tying tray to be hung up when not in use.

According to the modification shown in Figs.

5 and 6, the construction of the rigid flat member it! and the decorative covering is similar to the previous form of the inventiondifferentiating merely in the inclusion of two tie strings i i pcsitioned upon the tray near the ends thereof and each of which is adjustable for accommodating folded garments stacked in different heights. Each of the tie strings I4 is adapted to have i its intermediate portion passed through a plurality of openings ll extended through both the decorative covering I2 and the rigid fiat member it for permitting the position of the tie strings to be adjusted with relation to the tray by merely extending greater portions of the tie strings from either side of the tray. This is accomplished by grasping and manually pulling either end of the tie strings, depending upon the adjustment required for extending the side pulled.

Each of the tie strings is provided at each of its ends with a means for permitting the length of the tie strings to be adjusted to accommodate different quantities of folded garments. This adjustment is accomplished in a conventional manner by passing the ends of the tie strings it through openings 18 formed in small metallic members I9.

The free ends of the tie strings Hi are adapted to be securely attached to an intermediate bar l9 dividing off the openings it. This permits the small metallic member [9 to be slid along the length of the tie strings 14 to control the length thereof.

The adjacent ends of the tie strings M are provided with a means for permitting the ends to be releasably secured together for fixedly holding the folded garments in position upon the tray. This means includes small metallic members 20 having openings 28 through which the end portions of the tie strings M are adapted to be slidably engaged. The metallic member Zil at one end of each of the tie strings M is provided with a snap fastener element 2! which is adapted to engage a complementary snap fastener element 22 attached to the metallic member 23 upon the other end of each of the tie strings l4. This permits the tie strings l4 to be passed around the folded garments l l to permit the ends to be securely attached together.

According to the modification shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the construction of the utility tying tray is similar to that described in the previous forms of the invention except for the provision of flap elements 23 attached to the edge portions of the tray and engageable over the folded garments positioned thereon for covering them. These flaps 23 have their edge portions securely attached to the decorative covering l2 by means of stitches thereon; i.

As shown in Fig. 8 after the folded garments II have been stacked in position, the flaps 23 are extended upwards along the sides of the folded garments and thence across the top thereof to 'a "position in which the free edges of the flaps will lee/overlapped for completely covering the garments. Then the tie strings are extended over the flaps-in a manner similar to that previously describedand tied into a bow M for maintaining the flaps in position upon the folded garments and maintaining the folded garments in position upon the tray.

According to the modification shown in Figs. 9 to 11 a rigid flat member 3!! is provided for supporting a plurality of folded garments and has longitudinal scored areas w formed'along its sides by which portions of the tray maybe folded under to various degrees to accommodate the tray to folded garments of various contours.

cumference of the rigid flat member 3!! and is adapted to. be folded therewith as clearly shown in Fig. 10.

A plurality of two-armed clips 32 are adapted to beinounted upon the edge portions of the rigid member for holding the folded areas as desired. These two-armed clips are constructed from strips of spring steel or similar material and each consists of a top arm i2 substantially flat throughout its entire length for extending across the top face of the rigid flat member f l The top arm 32 continues into a bent intermediate portion 32 for extending around the edge portion of the rigid member 3! The bent intermediate portion 32 continues into a bottom arm 32 formed with'a slight curvature throughout its the right fiat member 30 with its end engaging against the bottom face of the flat member for rigidly maintaining the folded under portions fixedly in position.' The manner in which the clip 32 acts to hold the folded under portions in position is clearly shown in Fig. 10.

Each of the two-armed clips 32 is formed with a loop member 33 which extends laterally from the bent over portion 32 A tie string 34 is provided foreach of the loop members and has one of its ends passed through the loop member and securely attached thereto by means of stitches 85. When the two-armed clips are in position on the edge portion of the rigid member 38, the tie strings 34 are adapted to be extended over the folded garments to permit the adjacent ends to be tied together for holding the garments in position thereon.

The operation of this form of the device is as follows:

' The folded garments are positioned on the tray and the edge portions thereof may be bent under to control the side of the tray to accommodate it to the size of the area covered by the folded garments. That is, if the folded garments are large, the tray may be completely extended and if the folded garments are small a portion of the tray may be bent under to decrease its. size and make it conform with the size of the folded garments. The clips 32 are then positioned upon the edge portions of the tray for maintaining the folded under areas in position and for permitting the strings 34 to be used for maintaining the folded garments in position upon the tray.

According to the modification shown in Figs. 12 to 16 a rigid flat member 49 for supporting a plurality of goods GE is provided with a decorative covering 42. The decorative covering completely encases the member iii. Tie strings 43 are associated with the decorative covering in a manupwards over the folded garments and be tied into a bow 63 for maintaining the folded garments in position upon the rigid member it.

.A box-like covering it of cloth material is adapted to be engaged completely around the rigid member lil and the folded garments 4| for completely encasing the same as shown in Fig. 13. The box-like covering Mi is open alongthree of its sides and is adapted. to be closed by means I of a slide fastener d5 controlled by a slide member 45. The rear wall of the box-like covering M is not provided with an opening and acts as a hinge for the top portion M to permit it to be moved to an open position away from the bottom portion M when the slide fasteners &5 are in their open position for exposing the interior thereof to permit the folded garments M to be positioned upon the rigid member ll] and removed therefrom as desired.

Fig. 17, a binding strip l2 has been shown, covering the edge of the rigid flat member ID.

.The decorative cover l2 partially overlaps the binding strip I2 I In Figs. 18 and 19, the slide fastener 45 is arranged at the upper edge of the bottom portion transparent or anyother suitable material and I held at the bottom of the rigid fiat member H] by snap; fastenersfit or the like so that they may be detached from the said flat member when desired. The top edges 23 of flaps 23 are joined by slide fastener members 49 which may be closed or separated by the conventional slide member 5!]. By means of this arrangement it is possible to fully cover the article placed on the rigid fiat member Ill and to either fold the flaps under the said rigid member or remove it entirely therefrom when it is desired to' display the article on the utility tray. i In Figs. 23 and 24, fourflaps 23" are provided which may be held together in the folded position by a decorative ribbon 5i passing through eyelets 52 in the superimposed flap members. Instead of a ribbon, snap fasteners or any other means may be used for securing these flaps 23" together. The flaps 23 are made of solid material and are provided with suitable hinges 53. They may be folded under the rigid flat member I!) when so desired. In other respects this form of the invention is also similar to the previous forms.

In Fig. 25 the rigid flat member Iii is shown to be round and is provided with an elastic band 54 which may be either permanently or detachably secured to the fiat member II].

It is to be understood that the shape of the utility tying tray may be changed as desired and the decorative cover may be of any suitable material, to harmonize with the surroundings or with the article tied thereon. The utility tray may also be made of composition, metal, or any other suitable material.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A utility tying tray, comprising a rigid flat member for supporting folded garments and having longitudinal scored areas along its sides which may be folded under to various degrees, a decorative covering encasing said member, two-armed clips mounted on the edge portions of said rigid member for holding the folded areas as desired, and loop members on the outer ends of said clips, and tie strings attached on said loop members and .adapted to extend over said folded garments for securing them in position.

2. A utility tying tray, comprising a rigid flat member for supporting folded garments and having longitudinal scored areas along its sides which may be folded under to various degrees, a decorative covering encasing said member, two-armed clips mounted on the edge portions of said rigid member for holding the folded areas as desired, and loop members on the outer ends of said clips, and tie strings attached on said loop members and adapted to extend over said folded garments for securing them in position, each of said twoarmed clips being constructed from a piece of mediate portion for engaging around the edge portion of said tray, and a bottom arm continuing from said bent around intermediate portion and being formed with a slight curvature throughout its entire length and for extending partially across the bottom face of said rigid member for maintaining said folded under portion fixedly in position.

MARTHA P. GEIGER. 

